Seattle Animal Shelter news and events

Katy is an outstanding volunteer! Her roles (like many) aren’t flashy, and she doesn’t get in as much kitten cuddling time as she’d like. Yet she’s had an incredibly positive impact on everything from adoptions to education to fundraising (and so much more!) for the Seattle Animal Shelter. In her volunteer role as the shelter’s social media coordinator, Katy juggles what is, for many other organizations, a paid full-time job. For Katy, it’s a labor of love. She has honed the shelter’s social media presence – including reaching a following of 10,000 fans on Facebook, supporting 26 volunteer teams and promoting thousands of adoptable animals.

The impact of her efforts is felt throughout our organization, and so many animals and adopters have her to thank for lifesaving introductions. And this is in addition to the many other roles Katy has graciously volunteered for over the years, including lead positions for the Furry 5K (SAS’ biggest fundraiser of the year) and our Marketing and Events Team. Suffice it to say that Katy rocks, and SAS is incredibly luck to have her.

Online voting is open until Aug. 12, 2016. The three nominees with the highest number of votes will be announced and honored at the FUTY (From Us to You) Festival celebration on Aug. 21, 2016. Hosted by MudBay, the FUTY Festival is a celebration of all animal welfare volunteers and staff held at the historic Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park. The winners of the FUTY Festival Volunteer of Excellence award will each receive a $1,000 cash prize, and their organizations will also receive a $1,000 donation from Mud Bay.

This is the perfect time to add a cool city pet to your home with 50 percent off* critter adoptions all month long!

Critters are the perfect pet for individuals and families looking for a small bundle of love. They include rabbits and bunnies, mice, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, birds, snakes, turtles, iguanas and more.

Check out some of the critters available at the Seattle Animal Shelter (at the time of this posting):

Neon

Zep

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information, call 206-386-PETS (7387), or view animals available for adoption online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Lina is a Himalayan/American rabbit, just one of many critters available for adoption at SAS.

At the Seattle Animal Shelter, we care for more than just dogs and cats. We have an entire volunteer team devoted to the care of critters – birds, reptiles, mice, rabbits, and more! If you’ve been thinking about adding a new pet to your family but perhaps want something smaller than a dog or cat, a critter may be the pet for you.

Come on down to the Seattle Animal Shelter from noon to 6 p.m., this Saturday, July 16 for a special critter adoption event with giveaways, a photo booth and more! Even better, receive 50 percent off all fees when you adopt a critter* during the month of July! Perhaps the perfect pet for your household will be “Argon” the mouse or “Chili” the chinchilla. “Spice” the guinea pig would love to spice up your home and “Penny” the rabbit would love to hop right in. All bad puns aside, critters make wonderful pets – we’d love to help make a perfect match and find the right critter for you.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information, call 206-386-PETS (7387), or view animals available for adoption online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

For many people, Fourth of July is one of the most celebrated days of the year, a time to enjoy backyard barbecues and fireworks lighting up the sky. While fun for people, these holiday festivities create potential hazards for pets. The Seattle Animal Shelter encourages you to make July Fourth activities safe for the furry members of your family by offering a handful of holiday tips.

“Fourth of July can be an incredibly stressful time for your pet,” said Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director. “By taking proper precautions, you can ensure your pet’s safety and enjoy the holiday celebration.”

General Tips:

Keep your pet indoors. The noise from fireworks can be frightening to animals and may cause them to seek safety.

Don’t bring your pet to a fireworks display. Crowded, unfamiliar and loud places can cause undue stress on animals. If you are going to a fireworks display or an event where fireworks will be used, the best action is to leave your pet at home.

Consult your veterinarian beforehand if you think your pet may need to be sedated.

Protect your pet from the heat. Holiday weekend weather is forecasted in the mid-to-upper 80s. Do not leave your pet in a car, even in the shade, and make sure your pet has access to cool water. Be careful not to overexert your pet.

Make sure your pet is wearing proper identification, such as a current pet license. If a lost pet wearing its license is brought to the Seattle Animal Shelter, the owner is notified immediately via telephone. If an officer finds a licensed pet in the field, it will be returned to the owner, instead of taken to the shelter.

Don’t feed your pet scraps from the grill. While it can be very tempting to share your holiday treats with your pet, it’s best to keep your pet on its normal diet. A change in diet can upset your pet’s digestion, and some human foods are toxic for some animals.

The Seattle Animal Shelter will be closed on Monday, July 4. If you find a stray animal, please care for the animal until the shelter reopens on Tuesday, July 5. As humane law enforcement officers will not be available during the closure, for any life-threatening situations call the Seattle Police Department at 911.

If you need emergency care for an injured animal, the following veterinary hospitals will be open on the holiday:

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information, call 206-386-PETS (7387), or view animals available for adoption online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The donation was a result of the first-ever Charles Smith Wines Jet City meatball competition, which took place earlier this year. Six top Seattle chefs competed for a $5,000 donation to be made to the charity of their choice, and winning chef Matt Fortner selected the Seattle Animal Shelter. At the check presentation, Charles announced he would match the donation, bringing the total to $10,000.

“On behalf of the city of Seattle, I’d like to thank Charles Smith for his generous donation and Chef Fortner for selecting our animal shelter to receive these funds,” said Mayor Murray. “Seattle is full of animal lovers like Chef Fortner, and this donation is a much appreciated example of a unique and creative way to support animals.”

“I don’t usually use pets and wine in the same sentence, but my wines and the Seattle Animal Shelter are both about building community, so this donation makes sense,” said Smith. “I’m happy to be presenting the check today alongside chef Fortner.”

“The Help the Animals Fund pays for veterinary care for shelter animals, supports our foster and volunteer programs and promotes educational outreach to prevent homeless, unwanted and abused animals,” said Jordan. “We are incredibly appreciative of Charles Smith’s generosity and Chef Fortner’s support of the Seattle Animal Shelter.”

Seattle will get a glimpse of summertime weather this weekend and into next week, with expected temperatures ranging from the high 70s to mid-80s. While we can seek out fresh air and a cold drink to cool down, our pets rely on us to make sure they are comfortable and safe. The Seattle Animal Shelter is reminding pet owners to exercise good judgment and use common sense when it comes to protecting their pets.

As many homes in the Northwest aren’t equipped with air conditioning due to our normally moderate climate, people leave their windows wide open during warm weather. The fresh air is essential to you and your pets, but be aware of the enticement and danger an open, screenless window can pose for cats.

“Make sure your window screens are secure, especially on second floors and above,” said Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Open, screenless windows are an invitation to tempt the old adage ‘curiosity killed the cat.’ They may be known for always landing on their feet, but those little paws are no match for the combination of hard ground and gravity when the fall begins six, or even two, stories up.”

Jordan also warned pet owners against leaving animals in vehicles.

“It’s not worth the risk. Cars in direct sunlight can reach fatal temperatures within just a few minutes,” he said. “Even on a 70-degree day, cars left in the sun can turn into lethal ovens, and, with the movement of the sun, cars originally left in the shade can soon be in direct sunlight.”

A Washington state law that went into effect last year makes it a violation just to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle or enclosed space, if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat or cold, lack of ventilation or lack of water. Penalties under this law are in addition to potential animal cruelty charges. Jordan said that the shelter’s humane law enforcement officers responding to calls about animals left in hot cars will utilize all means necessary to access vehicles to remove the animals.

The Seattle Animal Shelter offers the following tips for protecting pets during hot weather:

Never leave your animal tethered or kenneled in direct sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat, such as a dog house, porch or shady tree, and always provide access to plenty of cool water.

If you leave animals indoors, open the screened windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water, and if possible, leave them in a cool location.

Never leave dogs or cats unattended in a closed, locked vehicle. Animals do not perspire like humans; they cool themselves by panting. Vinyl, leather and even cloth seats in vehicles get hot under animals’ feet and prevent them from perspiring through their paws.

If you must travel with your pet, carry water. If a trip requires you leave your pet in the car at any point, think about saving that for another day. It’s not worth the risk.

Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition.

For birds, take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon. Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.

If you see an animal that may be in need of assistance, or if you have questions, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-PETS (7387). Information is also available online at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Why should I get a pet license?

As you might expect, we hear this question. A lot. We understand — although $24-35 to purchase a license for a spayed or neutered cat or dog won’t break most bank accounts, it is still an investment of your hard-earned dollars. It’s also an investment in the Seattle Animal Shelter, its services and its commitment to helping you and your pet in your time of need. Luckily, our Seattle Animal Shelter is totally worth it.

Microchips are amazing. A microchip is tiny – about the size of a grain of rice – and it is implanted under the skin, usually between the shoulders. Each chip contains a unique identification number, which can be read painlessly with a microchip scanner. Most veterinarians and animal rescues have scanners. If the microchip has been properly registered, you can contact the registration company and they will try to contact the owners. Microchips provide permanent identification and are highly recommended. However, they work best in partnership with visible identification. Plus, you can easily add your pet’s microchip number to your Seattle license record for added protection.

Visible identification is essential for getting lost pets home. Tags are deceivingly simple, yet so important. A tag tells your pet’s finder that he’s owned and lost, and not a stray that can be kept or ignored. By providing the Seattle Animal Shelter’s phone number, it makes it easy for the finder to help. And while Seattle is an extremely cat- and dog-friendly city, your pet’s finder may not be savvy about microchips and how to help a lost animal. The phone number on a license tag provides a simple call to action that doesn’t require additional knowledge or a quest to find a microchip scanner. We also recommend your pet wear a tag with your phone number, but a pet license is still vital in providing someone your pet’s finder can call when you can’t get to the phone. Perhaps someday our pets will all be GPS-equipped, but in the meantime a license tag can help be your pet’s voice if he becomes lost. [Read more…]

It’s that time of year in Seattle, and it’s happening everywhere in the city. You may not even be aware of it until you find yourself being chirped at or dive-bombed by a wild bird that has seemingly lost its mind, or until you find a helpless nestling or awkward fledgling on the ground. Now through about mid-August, our feathered wild neighbors will be busy raising their next generation, and during this time the odds of encountering a protective parent and their naïve young will be very high. Most of the birds you will encounter will need nothing more from you than a little respectful distance, but you may occasionally encounter a baby bird out of the nest that could benefit from a helping hand.

But how will you know if the baby bird you encounter needs help? And, if it needs help, what should you do? Check out this simple, two-minute video recently posted on Slate.com to help answer these questions. Additional sources of information and assistance are below.

The Seattle Animal Shelter responds to dead and injured wildlife within Seattle city limits. Give us a call at 206-386-7387 if you require assistance.

It’s National Pet ID Week, and the Seattle Animal Shelter is encouraging Seattle pet owners to make sure their dogs, cats, miniature goats and potbellied pigs are licensed. Pet license fees directly support the shelter’s lifesaving work, and licenses quickly help return lost pets to their owners.

Licensed pets that get lost are often spared a trip to the shelter or to a vet when they are found. The Seattle Animal Shelter’s phone number is engraved in the license, and a simple phone call to the shelter will help identify the pet and its owner. Reuniting the pet with its owner becomes a less stressful situation for the pet and keeps shelter resources available for other animals in need. Pet licenses are also visible identification, showing roaming animals as owned and lost, not as a stray that the finder should keep or ignore.

“Pet licenses help lost pets get back home,” said Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director. “But reuniting lost pets with their families is only the beginning of the benefits of licensing your pet.”

Jordan said that license fees directly support the Seattle Animal Shelter’s lifesaving work. By licensing your pet, he explained, you help the shelter do everything from rehabilitating neglected animals to supporting community events to rescuing injured wildlife to providing affordable spay and neuter surgeries and, of course, helping pets in need find loving homes.

Purchasing a pet license is easy to do – submit your license payment and just a few pieces of information, mainly contact information and a brief description of your pet. Owners can:

License fees for cats and dogs that have been spayed or neutered are $30-$40 for two years. Unaltered cat and dog two-year license fees are $49-$76. Seniors and adults with disabilities may receive a discount by supplying their Seattle Gold or FLASH card number.

Cat and dog owners may also benefit from a monthly “Protect Your Pet” clinic, 3-6 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month. Seattle residents can bring their cats and dogs to the shelter and receive a free rabies vaccination and/or $15 microchip with the purchase or renewal of the pet’s license. Additional vaccines are $10 each. The Protect Your Pet clinic is held in partnership with Good Neighbor Vet, which provides the vaccination and microchip services in its mobile unit. The next event is this Friday, April 22.

Seattle Municipal Code Section 9.25.050 requires licensing of all cats and dogs in Seattle. For more information or to purchase or renew your pet’s license, please visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org or call 206-386-4262. The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15th Ave. W. and is open noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, for licensing and adoptions.

It’s officially spring, the time of year we start opening our windows and spending more time outdoors. As we enjoy the rising temperatures and the more than 70-degree weather forecasted for the next couple of days, the Seattle Animal Shelter is reminding pet owners to exercise good judgment and use common sense when it comes to protecting their pets.

As many homes in the Northwest aren’t equipped with air conditioning due to our normally moderate climate, people leave their windows wide open during warm weather. The fresh air is essential to you and your pets, but be aware of the enticement and danger an open, screenless window can pose for cats.

“Make sure your window screens are secure, especially on second floors and above,” said Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Open, screenless windows are an invitation to tempt the old adage ‘curiosity killed the cat.’ They may be known for always landing on their feet, but those little paws are no match for the combination of hard ground and gravity when the fall begins six, or even two, stories up.”

Jordan also warned pet owners against leaving animals in vehicles.

“It’s not worth the risk. Cars in direct sunlight can reach fatal temperatures within just a few minutes,” he said. “Even on a 70-degree day, cars left in the sun can turn into lethal ovens, and, with the movement of the sun, cars originally left in the shade can soon be in direct sunlight.”

A Washington state law that went into effect last year makes it a violation just to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle or enclosed space, if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat or cold, lack of ventilation or lack of water. Penalties under this law are in addition to potential animal cruelty charges. Jordan said that the shelter’s humane law enforcement officers responding to calls about animals left in hot cars will utilize all means necessary to access vehicles to remove the animals.

The Seattle Animal Shelter offers the following tips for protecting pets during hot weather:

Never leave your animal tethered or kenneled in direct sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat, such as a dog house, porch or shady tree, and always provide access to plenty of cool water.

If you leave animals indoors, open the screened windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water, and if possible, leave them in a cool location.

Never leave dogs or cats unattended in a closed, locked vehicle. Animals do not perspire like humans; they cool themselves by panting. Vinyl, leather and even cloth seats in vehicles get hot under animals’ feet and prevent them from perspiring through their paws.

If you must travel with your pet, carry water. If a trip requires you leave your pet in the car at any point, think about saving that for another day. It’s not worth the risk.

Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition.

For birds, take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon. Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.

If you see an animal that may be in need of assistance, or if you have questions, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-7387 (PETS). Information is also available online at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.